Report: PSP Skype launching this month

Japan's Nikkei Net says Sony expects to launch Internet phone service imminently; free for PSP-to-PSP and PSP-to-PC calls, but limited to PSP Slim owners.

Earlier this week, Sony's Consumer Electronics Show site slipped news that voice over IP support would soon be added to the hardware maker's frontline handheld, the PlayStation Portable. While the blurb contained no information beyond the fact, Japan's Nikkei Net news service (registration required) is reporting today that Skype functionality will be added to the PSP as early as this month.

Nikkei also provided a few details on what PSP owners can expect from the Sony-Skype partnership. Skype's Internet phone technology will be limited to owners of the PSP Slim, which launched worldwide in September. Owners of the redesigned handheld will able to download Skype software directly onto their PSPs and then use a specially designed microphone to communicate.

The Skype service will be free for PSP-to-PSP and PSP-to-PC calls. PSP Slim owners will also be able to sign up for a dedicated phone number, which Nikkei is reporting will run for 2,250 yen (about $20.70) for three months of usage. Nikkei did not report on whether the pricing structure would extend to other regions. Sony had not returned requests for comment as of press time.

74 Comments

  • chalkzone0

    Posted Jan 19, 2008 3:47 pm PT

    i want to talk to people that is cool the only thing bad is that you have to have a wireless conteion

  • Vectah_Sigma

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 12:39 pm PT

    this MIGHT give the iphone a run for its money. its cheaper and better, but it'll all depend on how good the service is.

  • CubanBlunt

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 12:15 pm PT

    The slim is over all better then the fat, more internal memory, able to hook it up to a T.V. I have the fat PSP, I'm not mad at all because all the new stuff that the slim can do, I know the fat can't do.

  • RAVEZero

    Posted Jan 9, 2008 9:57 pm PT

    If this starts to go the way of the N-Gage, it's not going to be pretty.

  • YeoCS

    Posted Jan 9, 2008 7:16 pm PT

    Just the other day I was talking to others PSP owner if someone in SONY can think far. Big business for all the add-on that's coming (as like GPS, keyboard, SKYPE etc....). But limited to Slim is a big mistake. Just like another executive thinking sitting in the board. The don't understanding why in the first place we own a PSP. We saw is more than just a game machine.

  • GreenC4T

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 10:44 am PT

    Seems interesting. But too bad it wont work on my PSP, since I have the original one

  • agustbestur

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 2:49 am PT

    cool

  • josedbz

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 10:03 pm PT

    there is a reason why its only slim psp because sony wants people to stop having Custom Firmware on there fat PSP's that is why its only slim because i know if they wanted to they could put skyped one the fat to this is just SONY's way to stop the hackers/people with custom firmware psp's

  • subrosian

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 7:24 pm PT

    The PSP slim has more memory, clearly something that may be a limiting factor in running the application on the older PSP Phat. If the service could run on all PSPs, wouldn't Skype pursue it, given the possibility of users spending $80 a year for the full-access service?

  • jediryan123

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 3:20 pm PT

    well I bought a fat psp but then eb had a great deal for $99, 3 games and my old psp and I get a slim. So I'm happy

  • V-Nine

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 2:26 pm PT

    ...meh.

  • larlarbd

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 1:00 pm PT

    WOW , slim users only ? I have the 1st batch of PSP , what about me SONY ?

  • Pastehunter

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 10:33 am PT

    Cool ... still I wont use it much ...

  • gaming247

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 9:30 am PT

    Sony Sucks!!!!!!! Slim users only WTF!!

  • TAZ_ASSASIN

    Posted Jan 7, 2008 1:26 am PT

    oh nice....

    Thanks but no thanks....

  • Master_Bassist

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 9:09 pm PT

    I don't much care for the slim-specific nature, but it makes business sense. It's a kick in the nuts to people who bought it at the beginning. Overall though, it will be a good feature.

  • playstation_wii

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 6:55 pm PT

    Oh sweet!

    I can afford a mobile!!!!!

  • sergioalb64

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 12:14 pm PT

    So when I get my PSP Slim, I can pay about $7 a month to use it as a crazy phone that can contact other PSPs, PCs, landlines and cell phones?

    I'm SO in!

  • ChiefFreeman

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 10:00 am PT

    will it be for U.S. users also?

  • LordelX

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 7:52 am PT

    If it lets me call overseas for a very small fee, I'm on board.

  • lostn

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 6:27 am PT

    "....but limited to PSP Slim owners....."

    That is DISCRIMINATION!!!! Arrggh!!...


    What about those HDMI equipped Xbox 360's? Did you complain about MS screwing over first generation 360 owners?

  • --odai--

    Posted Jan 6, 2008 1:55 am PT

    Why just the slim

  • lextexrex

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 8:31 pm PT

    Guarantee hackers will get the old psps to have skype too. And they will win the war!!!

  • grafkhun

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 5:10 pm PT

    i dont see any future waves from this.

    - only PSP slim? weak sauce.

    - almost 21 bucks for 3 months aint bad i guess, but whos really going to use the PSP as their next cell phone.

    - isn't there like all these mods for the psp already? oh well.

  • runstalker

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 1:39 pm PT

    Seems like half the owners of the original PSP are using hacked systems with old firmware to run emulators, so maybe that point isn't so important because they wouldn't/couldn't run new software like Skype anyway. Then again, we have yet to see any solid Slim-specific sales figures from Sony. They may have sold a bunch of Slims near the end of '07 via the all-in-one packs (Star Wars, etc.).

  • alberto2045

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 1:10 pm PT

    hmmm thats pretty cool except that of cource they are doing it to Asia only probably and am sure it will be here in 2009 like that a small time to wait

  • deth420

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 10:17 am PT

    yeah for the slim only is kinda weak......well real weak. so for getting the system early and supporting them all this time (even though theres no good games for it,) pretty weak indeed. this is the same crap the ngage did (remaking the system 3 or 4 times) and why it failed. i will prolly keep my psp but at this point its only to watch movies and listen to music whilst on the go. but again real weak sony!

    oh and cant wait for games that start coming out for the slim only cuase the more ram, thatll be cool too......

  • flashsc85

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 9:29 am PT

    so i can talk with it but its 20 for 3 months i bet it will probally be like 40 a month wich is not worth it to all most everybody cause we all have this little thing called a cellphone that dose not need to be in a wifi area yeah im getting that all right

  • shinjutsu

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 9:23 am PT

    To all the people mad because its only for the slim dont get mad. And if you seriously are getting mad you must be an idiot. It was obvious that it would only be for the slim. Sony wants money, how are they making money otherwise. This way people will have to upgrade, boosting sales and making Sony a very happy company. Easy as that.

  • Labinoti

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 8:55 am PT

    what about those people that bought the old PSPs. Do you think about that Sony.

  • DarkWarriorXIV

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 7:58 am PT

    Well, limited to PSP Silm, uh? Great for me not have bought a PSP yet, but I just feel bad for who did...

  • aDhAmMe13

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 7:10 am PT

    SWEET!!!

  • TheNumber_12

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 7:06 am PT

    Well, I sure feel appreciated for supporting the PSP since launch **** you very much Sony

  • Triton

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 5:59 am PT

    Better hope it doesn't drop a call or some folks will sue. Cause after all $20.70 is a lot of money to some folks that can't even deal with a xbox live subscription for $4.17 a month. :-)

  • PS3Compass

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 5:01 am PT

    "....but limited to PSP Slim owners....."

    That is DISCRIMINATION!!!! Arrggh!!...

  • SonicTheMonkey

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 3:05 am PT

    So basically, thats a big "**** you" from Sony to its original PSP owners. What the hell does it matter if the PSP is fat or slim? Can't we all just have Skype? :'(

  • Erebus

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 2:19 am PT

    We have the exact opposite of the N-Gage here. The PSP's games are fine, but you can only make and accept phone calls in wi-fi supported areas. Conversely, good N-Gage games are few and far between, but you can make and receive phone calls anywhere.

  • lew_0911

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 2:02 am PT

    Damn it. And I told myself I'd stick with my old PSP (with a funky X button) and my old DS lite (with a funky L button)

  • Raptole

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 12:58 am PT

    will be great!

  • coneman1

    Posted Jan 5, 2008 12:22 am PT

    Not a bad deal at all, maybe this will solve the the problem of going over on my minutes so much with my Cellphone!

  • Chief_Kuuni

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 11:48 pm PT

    not bad at all, might have to get a psp now

  • sunn_kunn

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 10:53 pm PT

    Limited to the PSP slim?
    wtf Sony...

    I know this is just a way for them to get more Slim's sold and so I can respect the marketing aspect of it, but some ppl, like myself, just dont want a slim PSP. It feels too light for em, and the build materials are cheap and with their PS3 out, it seems unfair to think that owners of the first PSP who might have gotten themselves a PS3, are really going to fork out for a PSP slim ... at the very least, at least the PSP's connectivity is growing.

  • ColdfireTrilogy

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 10:16 pm PT

    Woot ... oh wait it wasnt made for us who went out early and actually got this handheld off the ground .... W T F ? lame imo

  • ctg867

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 10:04 pm PT

    Hmm... could be cool. I'll wait and see.

  • niteowl74

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 9:34 pm PT

    I've been wanting a Skype wi-fi phone. Just sucks that it will only work on the slim psp. Maybe cause of the extra ram?

  • GreenGoblin2099

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 7:55 pm PT

    WTF?? why slim only??? we fatties deserve it as well

  • dewmandew7

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 7:12 pm PT

    What I don't understand is why can only the slim support this feature? Is there some sort of hardware difference that allows for Skype in the Slim only?

  • gamerkid99

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 7:10 pm PT

    Hay some of us have old PSP's!!!

  • thestickman

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 6:25 pm PT

    Hmm.... Sounds interesting. Already have a cellphone, but this could provide a different take on things I suppose. Then again, I'm the only person out of everyone I know that has a Slim unit, so the only good the service would do me is PSP to PC...

  • finaleve

    Posted Jan 4, 2008 6:20 pm PT

    They make it so you can look at all this other crap, but ya can't get it to use Skype...and Skype would have been the best use I got out of the PSP, no joke. I'm NOT buying a slim just so i can chat wirelessly for free. I'll stick to a cell phone or a wireless phones that both use the headset and live with those/

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